Extension devices



Oct. 28, 1969 v. H. PHEMISTER 3,474,699

EXTENSION DEVICES Filed Sept. 25. 1967 INVENTOR Vmcu. lpemsren BY Ww Ti ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,474,699 EXTENSION DEVICES Virgil H. Phemister, 9407 Roslan Place, Overland, Mo. 63114 Filed Sept. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 670,162 Int. Cl. G10d 13/00 US. Cl. 84-453 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE connected thereto below the sole by an elongated extension member. The extension member is detachable from both the plate and the pedal actuator so that the latter can be directly attached to the plate.

This invention relates in general to musical instruments and, more particularly, is an extension device for enabling children and other individuals with short legs to reach the pedals of organs.

Church, concert hall, and most home organs have one keyboard located at the base of the organ console, the keys or pedals of which are operated by the organists feet. The legs of most children under ten years of age and a few adults are not long enough to reach these pedals and as a result it is difiicult to instruct them to play organ music satisfactorily. Such children do not make the progress of which they are capable until their legs become long enough to use the pedals. This invention makes possible their progressing in keeping with their ability.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a device for enabling individuals having short legs to play the keyboard located at the base of an organ console; the provision of a device of the type stated which facilitates instructing children and other individuals with short legs to play the organ; the provision of a device of the type stated which is suitable for use with individuals of varying heights all of them too short; and the provision of a device of the type stated which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an extension device constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the extension device; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of FIG. 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 designates an extension device including a mounting or foot plate 4 which is adapted to be fastened against a sole of an organists shoe 5 by means of straps 6 which extend over the vamp of shoe 5. Clamps designed to retentively engage the side edge of the sole such as those found on some roller skates may also be employed. Also, plate 4 may be permanently attached to the sole of shoe 5 by means of an adhesive or nails. Rigidly fastened to the underface of foot plate 4 is socket fitting 7 having a downwardly opening socket 8 of square or other non-circular cross-sectional configuration.

Releasably fitted into and projecting axially from socket 8 is an extension member 10 integrally including an elongated shank 12 having an enllarged socket portion 14 at one end and a squared-off or other non-circular end portion 16 at its opposite end. End portion 16 possesses the same, although slightly smaller, cross-sectional configuration as socket 8 for slidable insertion therein. Fitted into squared-off end portion 16 is a springloaded ball 18 for frictionally engaging one of the walls of socket 8 so as to retentively secure extension member 10 to socket fitting 7. Socket portion 14 of extension member 10 is also provided with a downwardly opening socket 20 which is identical in cross-sectional size and configuration to socket 8.

Extending axially from socket 20 is a pedal actuator 22 including an elongated shank 24 having a squared-off or other non-circular end portion 26 at one end. End portion 26 is equal in size and identical in cross-sectional configuration to end portion 16 of extension member 10 and can therefore be inserted into either socket 8 or socket 20. End portion 26 is further fitted with a springloded ball 27 for retentively holding it in either socket 8 or 20. At its other or lower end shank 24 is rigidly provided with an arcuate pedal contactor 28 having a downwardly presented concave surface 30 which is covered with a suitable non-slip or slide-retarding coating. On its upper surface pedal contactor 28 is covered with a luminous coating.

In use, foot plate 4 is fastened against the sole of the organists shoe 5 by means of straps 6 or other suitable fastening devices. An extension member 10 of suitable length is then selected and its squared-off end portion 16 is fitted into socket 8. Then squared-of end portion 26 of pedal actuator 22 is fitted into socket 20 of extension member 10 so that arcuate pedal contactor 28 is presented substantially perpendicular to but below the longitudinal centerline of the organists foot. Extension member 10 can be made in a number of different lengths. By selecting a member of the proper length or by combining two or more, the arcuate pedal contactor 28 can be located immediately above the organs lower keyboard 32 when the organist sits on the console bench with his feet pointing forwardly. By merely depressing his foot the organist can engage any desired foot pedal 34 with concave surface 30 of pedal contactor 28. The non-slip coating on that surface prevents pedal actuator 22 from slipping on foot pedal 34, while the luminous coating on the upper surface of arcuate pedal contactor 28 enables the organist to determine its exact location if he chooses to look downwardly during the early stages of instruction.

In the case of children, a set of extension members 10 of varying length may 'be provided so that as the child grows, shorter extension members 10 may be substituted for the ones previously used. In time the childs legs will become long enough to eliminate extension members 10 altogether, at which time squared-01f end portion 26 on pedal actuator 22 can be fitted directly into socket 8. As indicated above, when extension device 2 is used with children or other individuals having extremely short legs vention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descripion or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An extension device to assist individuals with short legs in playing musical instruments having foot-operated pedals, said extension device comprising mounting means attachable to the individuals shoe, actuating means attached to the mounting means and extending below the individuals shoe for engaging the pedals, said actuating means being provided with a downwardly presented concave surface for engaging the pedals.

2. An extension device to assist individuals with short legs in playing musical instruments having foot-operated pedals; the extension device comprising mounting means attachable to the individuals shoe, actuating means located below the individuals shoe for engaging the pedals, and extension means interconnecting the mounting means and the actuating means, the extension means being detachable from the mounting means and the actuating means, the actuating means being releasably attachable to the mounting means. 4

3. An extension device to assist individuals with short legs in playing musical instruments having foot-operated pedals; the extension device comprising mounting means attachable to the individuals shoe, actuating means located below the individuals shoe for engaging the pedals, a socket fitting attached to the nndersurface of the mounting means, and extension means held by the socket fitting and interconnecting the mouning means and the actuating means. v

4. An extension device according to claim 3 wherein the mounting means is a plate held securely against the sole of the individuals shoe.

5. An extension device according to claim 3 wherein the extension means forms a substantially rigid connection between mounting means and actuating means,

4 whereby the actuating means is mounted rigidly with respect to the mounting means.

6. An extension device according to clirna 5 wherein the extension means is detachable from the actuating means and mounting means.

7. An extension device according to claim 5 wherein the mounting means comprises a plate held securely against the individuals shoe; wherein the extension means at its one end fits retentively in the socket means and is provided at its opposite end with a socket portion; and wherein the actuating means at its upper end retentively fits within the socket portion of the extension means.

8. An extension device according to claim 7 wherein the actuating means comprises an elongated shank adapted-at its upper end to fit retentively in the socket portion of the extension means, and a pedal actuator having a downwardly presented arcuate surface.

9. An extension device according to claim 8 wherein the downwardly presented arcuate surface is covered with a slide-retarding substance so that the pedal actuator will not slip on the pedals when brought into engagement with them.

10. An extension device according to claim 8 wherein the sockets of the socket fitting and socket portion are identical in cross-sectional size and configuration so that the shank of the pedal actuator retentively fits in either one.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,854,627 4/ 1932 Schweikert 248--357 3,355,136 11/1967 Staples 248-357 3,070,807 1/1963 Wheeler 3-4 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner L. R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 3-4 

